Tank construction for liquid cargo vehicles



March 3, 1953 F. c. ARKOOSH 2,630,236

TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR LIQUID CARGO VEHiCLES Filed Sept. 14, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 qajz umzmw w 6 2 R. 1 2 mm. x m No a m w m n 5. A A 2 m 6 m .2 W 8 0 m e 0% F G ARKOOSH TANK congsmucnou FOR LIQUIDHCARGO VEHICLES March 3, 1953 Filed Sept. 14, 1949 Patented Mar. 3, 1953 TANK CONSTRUCTION FOR LIQUID CARGO VEHICLES Frederick G. Arkoosh, Omaha, Nebr.

Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,620

This invention relates generally to liquid storage tanks, and refers more particularly to improvements in tanks of the type employed on liquid cargo vehicles.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide the tank with a compartment having a flexible non-metallic liner which is impervious to the liquid to be stored within the compartment, and is in the form of a collapsible cell corresponding generally in size to the size of the compartment.

It is another object of this invention to provide a construction wherein the cell is collapsible to enable its ready insertion into the compartment through an access opening provided in the top Wall of the tank and. wherein suitable means is provided for removably fastening the walls of the cell to the adjacent walls of the compartment. The fastening means employed may be in the form of anchor tabs extending outwardly from the cell at spaced points and secured to the adjacent portions of the compartment walls by clamps.

With the above in view, it is another object of this invention to provide means between the I clamps and adjacent portions of the cell for protecting the latter from Iubbing contact with the clamps.

It is still another object of this invention to provide the collapsible cell with an opening at the top registerable with the access opening and with an outlet opening at the bottom registerable with a. drain opening in the adjacent wall of the compartment. In accordance with this invention the portions of the cell bordering the openings therethrough are removably clamped in tight sealing engagement with the adjacent wall portions of the compartment.

It is a further object of this invention to normally close. the access opening in the compartment with a plate having a filler opening communicating with the interior of the collapsible cell and enabling the liquid to be pumped or otherwise inserted into the cell.

By reason of the above general arrangement, it is apparent that the tank may be formed of such light-weight metals as magnesium, aluminum or alloys of these metals without regard as to whether these metals are subject to attack by the liquid cargo. Also the tank need not be liquid-tight, rendering it possible to secure the several sections or parts together by rivets or the like. In the event rivets or equivalent fasteners are used to fasten the tank parts together, it is preferred to cover the inner ends of the fasteners with a material which protects the cell against 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) store liquids of one form or another.

2 direct contact with the fasteners and thereby prevent undue chafing of the cell.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a tank of the above general type with a multiplicity of separate compartments and with a collapsible cell lining for each compartment.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a vehicle equipped with a liquid cargo tank constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the means for securing the liner of the tank in place;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure l; and

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view Y through one of the bulkheads embodied in the tank forming the subject matter of this invention.

It will be understood from the following description that tanks embodying the features of the present invention may be used to advantage in practically all instances where it is desired to However, the invention finds particular utility when employed for the purpose of storing liquids on cargo vehicles, or other mobile equipment where weight is a (primary consideration. In the specific embodiment of the invention selected herein for the urpose of illustration, the tank is 'shown in connection with a trailer type vehicle having the usual frame structure It supported by ground engaging wheels l.

Suitably mounted on the frame structure It) is a tank l2 which, as specifically illustrated, is of oval cross section with its peripheral wall formed of sheet metal. This tank comprises a plurality of compartments l3 arranged in end to end relationship lengthwise of the frame it and separated by suitable bulkheads l4 shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. Each bulkhead I 4 comprises laterally spaced plates l5, and a corrugated reinforcing plate l6 located between the plates [5. The peripheral edges of the plates l5 are formed with laterally outwardly extending flanges I! which are secured to the adjacent wall l8 of the tank to form a rigid construction.

The various parts cooperating to form the tank l2 are preferably formed of an extremely light weight metal such for example, as aluminum, magnesium, or alloys of these materials. Although such nonferrous metals are very light in weight, nevertheless. they do possess extremely high tensile strength, and while these metals under certain conditions may be welded or brazed, such modes of securing tend to detrimentally affect the strength characteristics. Accordingly, it is preferred to secure the various parts of the tank together by rivets indicated in the drawings by the numeral IS.

The top of the tank is formed with a plurality of openings 20 respectively registering with the compartments !3 and extending for substantially the full length of the compartments. The openings 20 are of sufficient width to enable a workman to enter the tank during assembly and are normally closed by removable plates 2|. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the plates 2| are provided with upstanding portions 22, and the portions 22 terminate in laterally outwardly extending attaching flanges 23. The flanges 23 are bolted or otherwise removably clamped to corresponding flanges 24 extending laterally outwardly from the upper edges of the upstanding portions 25. The portions 25 are shown as formed integral with suitable side rails 26 secured to the top of the tank at opposite sides of the opening 28 by rivets 2?. Each closure plate 2| also has an access opening 28 of sufficient size to permit the passage therethrough of a workman and normally closed by a removable plate 29 bolted or otherwise removably clamped to the portion of the plate 2! bordering the opening 28. A fitting 30 is secured to each plate 29 and provides a filler opening 3| for each compartment l3. The filler openings 3| are respectively closed by caps 32 removably supported on the fittings 30.

The bottom of the tank i2 is provided with a series of drain openings 33 respectively registering with the compartments l3 and communicating with drain conduits 34. The drain conduits 34 are provided with annular attaching flanges 35 at the upper ends and these flanges are removably clamped to the bottom of the tank by bolts 36. A suitable gasket 3'! is interposed between each conduit and the adjacent wall of the tank to form a fluid-tight seal.

Inasmuch as the various parts of the tank are riveted together, it will be understood that the compartments |3 are not completely fluid-tight, and in order to overcome this deficiency as well as to prevent the liquid cargo from direct contact with the metal walls of the compartments, each compartment is lined with a non-metallic material which is impervious to the liquid cargo to be accommodated within the compartments. In the present instance the lining for each compartment is in the form of a collapsible cell or bag 38 preferably formed of rubber, synthetic rubber or some eouivalent material.

As shown particularly in Figure 2 of the drawings the top of each collapsible bag or cell 38 has an access opening registerable with the opening 28 in the associated compartment I3, and the portions 39 of the cell surrounding the opening therethrough are clamped to the adjacent plate 2| by a compression ring 40 and by a series of bolts 4|. The bolts 4| also serve to secure the plates 29 to the plates 2|. The bottom of each cell has a drain opening registering with the drain opening 33 in the bottom wall of the associated compartment, and the portion 42 of the cell surrounding the drain opening therethrough is clamped in place by a compression ring 43. The compression rings 43 are secured to the attaching rings 35 on the drain conduits 34 by means of the bolts 38.

The collapsible cells are secured in their extended positions within the respective compartments l3 by anchor tabs 44, one of which is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings. The anchor tabs 44 are secured in spaced relationshi to the outer surfaces of the cells and are removably attached to the adjacent walls of the compartments. Upon reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will be noted that each anchor tab comprises a base 45 cemented, vulcanized or otherwise permanently secured to the cell 38 and having a laterally outwardly extending portion 46 removably secured to the adjacent wall of the compartment or tank by a compression bar 41 and a bolt 48. The anchor tabs as well as the associated compression bars 47 extend for the full length of the respective compartments, and the base portions 45 are located between the compression bars 41 and adjacent walls of the cell to protect the latter from chafing gainst the compression bars. In this connection attention is called to the fact that the inner ends of the rivets as well as all joints between parts of the tank are covered by a non-metallic tape 49 which also protects the cells from chafing or undue wear.

The portions of the cells at opposite sides of the access openings therethrough are held in place by tabs 50 also extending for the full length of the respective compartments |3. The lower ends of the tab 50 are cemented or vulcanized to the cells, and the upper ends of the tabs are clamped between the portions 22 and 25 on the plates 2| and guard rails 26 respectively.

The colla sible cells 38 may be inserted into their respective compartments l3 prior to attaching the closure plates 2| in place. After the cells are inserted into their respective compartments, they are secured in place in the manner previously described by workmen operating within the tank compartments. After the workmen within the compartments complete their assigned operations, they may leave the compartments through the o enings in the top of the cells and perform the final operation of assembling the closure plates 2| and 29. During this assembly the marginal portions 39 of the cells and the tabs 50 may be secured in place to complete the installation of the cells.

Thus from the foregoing it will be noted that each compartment in the tank is provided with a removable liner in the form of a collapsible cell, which is impervious to the liquid to be accommodated within the compartments, and which may be readily replaced or repaired when required.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A liquid storage tank comprising a rigid structure including spaced heads, a peripheral shell partly surrounding said heads and having marginal portions terminating to leave an opening at the top extending the full distance between said heads, a plate bridging said opening and removably secured on opposite sides thereof to the marginal portions of said shell to complete the enclosure, said plate having an access opening therethrough and a removable closure for said access opening, a non-metallic liner for said enclosure in the form of a flexible collapsible cell insertable through said first-mentioned opening when said plate is removed and conforming to the inner surface of said shell and heads, said cell having an opening therein for registration with said access opening in said plate and being marginally sealed to the latter adjacent said last-named opening, and means for supporting said cell including a plurality of tabs secured thereto and extending substantially the full length thereof, and clamping means for clamping said tabs to said shell comprising a bar for each of said tabs bolted to said shell with the tabs clamped therebetween, said tabs being distributed to support from said shell the portions of said cell which might otherwise drop away therefrom.

2. A liquid storage tank comprising a rigid structure including spaced heads, a peripheral shell partly surrounding said heads and having marginal portions terminating to leave an opening at the top extending the full distance between said heads, a plate bridging said opening and removably secured on opposite sides thereof to the marginal portions of said shell to complete the enclosure, said plate having an access opening therethrough and a removable closure for said access opening, a non-metallic liner for said enclosure in the form of a flexible collapsible cell insertable through said first-mentioned opening when said plate is removed and conforming to the inner surface of said shell and heads, said cell having an opening therein for registration with said access opening in said plate and being marginally sealed to the latter adjacent said last-named opening, and means for supporting said cell including a plurality of tabs each extending substantially the full length of said cell and comprising a base portion secured to said cell and a laterally extending portion, and clamping means for clamping said tabs to said shell comprising a bar for each of said tabs bolted to said shell with the laterally extending portions of the respective tabs clamped therebetween, said tabs being distributed to support from said shell the portions of said cell which might otherwise drop away therefrom, and the base portions of said tabs disposed between said bars and the adjacent wall of said cell to protect the latter from chafing against said bars.

FREDERICK G. ARKOOSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 307,852 Folsom Nov. 11, 1884 2,097,113 Bradley Oct. 26, 1937 2,102,590 Gray et a1 Dec. 21, 1937 2,242,535 Mika May 20, 1941 2,257,941 Ellis Oct. 7, 1941 2,371,632 Lippincott Mar. 20, 1945 2,397,184 Klose Mar. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 124,997 Great Britain Apr. 10, 1919 439,038 Great Britain Nov. 25, 1935 

